Thread: Better vetting of police needed?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

That is a good point you make however I still don't know what vetting they do undergo if any?

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Not sure myself but I will ask the Better Half and post here later today!

Hey this is way out of line to be speculating on. I worked with Ben before he was a cop (I recruited him out of Uni and then we were involved in the same project for several years) and he is just a "normal" young guy. I've since spoken to him a couple of times at the police station.

Something has gone very wrong in his life - tragic for all concerned. Lets just all be sure to look after/look out for our friends, workmates and neighbours eh?

Can't answer the vetting question
As regards the incident, I think police obviously share the same relationship problems as the rest of us, probably more in fact due to the pressures of the job. Everyone has a tipping point, and it is different for each individual.
Being 'selfish' I'd hate to think a tragedy like this might be manipulated to support the 'increased firearm regs' crowd.
Prayers go out to ALL families involved.

Originally Posted by Tentman

Hey this is way out of line to be speculating on. I worked with Ben before he was a cop (I recruited him out of Uni and then we were involved in the same project for several years) and he is just a "normal" young guy. I've since spoken to him a couple of times at the police station.

Something has gone very wrong in his life - tragic for all concerned. Lets just all be sure to look after/look out for our friends, workmates and neighbours eh?

Well said

So sad. I feel for his young family

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

That is a good point you make however I still don't know what vetting they do undergo if any?

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You're not honestly asking if the police force vets it's applicants are you?
It's quite an intensive process as anyone would imagine.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Yikes, this tragedy is a bit raw for this sort of thread isn't it? And to me, the fact that the guy is a policeman is incidental to the size of the tragedy.

There are human beings involved here, not machines, including the policeman. Let the families and the folk who these victims are precious to mourn in peace. We shouldn't scape goat the police for a tragedy we know nothing about.

+1 Sounds abit like scape goating the police. They all human like anyone else and do a job many wouldnt want to do, and in the end it doesnt matter who you are, or what you do all can snap with the pressure of everyday life.

Yes I am asking what the vetting process is because I don't know for a fact what it is.

If truly anyone can snap under the pressures of life and murder others then I actually support a total disarmament of the entire country.

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Originally Posted by Tentman

Hey this is way out of line to be speculating on. I worked with Ben before he was a cop (I recruited him out of Uni and then we were involved in the same project for several years) and he is just a "normal" young guy. I've since spoken to him a couple of times at the police station.

Something has gone very wrong in his life - tragic for all concerned. Lets just all be sure to look after/look out for our friends, workmates and neighbours eh?

yeah, its a mess of a situation for everybody now. All the families and friends - it really is awful.

Once the entire country is disarmed there will be other kinds of weapons. Oldest of all been rocks
Be interesting to know the stats of firearms used for murder as opposed to knives, blunt instruments etc. Self harm by physcological (?sp) bullying

Cops are human and have emotions just like us and are generally of a better persona than the majority out there. We all have our breaking point. Only difference is do we act on impulse or after dwelling (mind fucking) on the situation or do we walk away mentally wounded?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yes I am asking what the vetting process is because I don't know for a fact what it is.

If truly anyone can snap under the pressures of life and murder others then I actually support a total disarmament of the entire country.

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Google this: psychological vetting of police in nz

What it won't tell you though is how important peer support and friends and family are for people under stress, and that stress and emotion simply goes with being human.

Our macho bullshit attitudes and culture, our denial and ignoring of our own and others' vulnerability, and the associated notion that people who crack are weak is actually counter intuitive to ensuring these sorts of things don't occur. No matter the persons' occupation.

Strange thread. If this had been about a hunter that accidentally shot someone then you would be calling for his head on a chopping block. Or if it was about some gang bangers shooting some innocents then the same would be called for. But it looks like a person who just happens to be a cop that set out to intentionally harm another person and succeeded and you're all calling for calm.

I will never understand you people.

Originally Posted by Towely

Strange thread. If this had been about a hunter that accidentally shot someone then you would be calling for his head on a chopping block. Or if it was about some gang bangers shooting some innocents then the same would be called for. But it looks like a person who just happens to be a cop that set out to intentionally harm another person and succeeded and you're all calling for calm.

I will never understand you people.

That's quite obvious.

It's not that simple Towely. Until each of us have walked in that man's shoes nobody here can speculate. One man could break down into depression upon finding his wife cheating, one could fly into a rage and kill them both. I don't know how I would react, I've never been there.

"There but for the grace of God go I" as the old saying goes - it could be you or I.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Google this: psychological vetting of police in nz

What it won't tell you though is how important peer support and friends and family are for people under stress, and that stress and emotion simply goes with being human.

Our macho bullshit attitudes and culture, our denial and ignoring of our own and others' vulnerability, and the associated notion that people who crack are weak is actually counter intuitive to ensuring these sorts of things don't occur. No matter the persons' occupation.

Totally agree. The whole process through training college is also a long term interview.

Peer support and spotting the changes in people is where it's at but still hard to do and knowing to what extent to take it to is easier said than done.

Personally I think it would be better to invest in more EAP programmes, especially for those in fire and ambulance, problem is the individual still needs to get over the stigma and pride and take up these options.